The Clinch
The following is a fictional conversation which took place on the last day of February, 1779 between a French mother, Abigail, and her eleven-year old son, Nathan, while sitting in their log cabin before a blazing fire used for warmth.
Nathan: "Mother, have you heard any news about the British?"
Abigail: "Yes. In the dead of this Kentucky winter, the battle for independence still lingers as the Governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry, is trying to break the British hold in the Midwest."
Nathan: "Why should the governor of Virginia worry about our lands?"
Abigail: "Virginia owns the land, Nathan."
Nathan: "What did the governor plan to do?"
Abigail: "Governor Henry sent a young red-haired Virginian named George Rogers Clark to capture Fort Kaskaskia from British Colonel Henry Hamilton. The fort was built by the French who are now allies or friends of the Americans."
Nathan: "Well, did Mr. Clark succeed?"
Abigail: "Yes. Mr. Clark is of strong mind and high intelligence and he tricked the British into thinking he had more men under his command than he actually did and the British surrendered without firing a single shot."
Nathan: "Did Mr. Clark return to Virginia then?"
Abigail: "No. He was commissioned to take control of Fort Vincennes. Do you remember Father Pierre Gibault?"
Nathan: "Yes. I believe I do. Didn’t he come visit one day to speak to father?"
Abigail: "You are absolutely correct and I remember you being very interested in what he had to say at the time."
Nathan: "From what I recall Mother, Father Gilbault wanted help from father."
Abigail: "Father Gibault came to ask us to unite against the British and pledge our allegiance to the Americans. He was very persuasive by appealing to the heart and soul which made the French abide by his request."
Nathan: "Were his efforts worth the trip?"
Abigail: "Apparently so as around 60 Frenchmen came to the aid of George Rogers Clark when the plan to retake Fort Vincennes from the British was put into action."
Nathan: "Tell me about the plan please."
Abigail: "It wasn’t easy Nathan as about
80 or so men had to travel 180 miles from
where they were camped over icy waters that
were up to 
their waist and higher in some
places due to the sudden thaw we recently
had. To make matters worse, Horseshoe Plain
was completely under water and traveling over it was not
the best. Some men were so weary from their harsh travels they needed to be placed
into canoes and pushed along the icy waters.
Nathan: "Did they make it, mother?"
Abigail: "Of course they did. Clark was wise and very stern. He threatened to shoot anyone who turned back so they all went on. When they reached higher ground they were able to dry their clothes and eat buffalo meat."
Nathan: "How did they capture the fort?"
Abigail: "A French trapper had told Clark, Colonel Hamilton was unaware of their presence and that he had recruited more Indians to help him fight."
Nathan: "Why the Indians?"
Abigail: "Nathan, as you know these lands were classified as "hunting grounds" for the Indians. This was their land and it was taken from them by many settlers. The British controlled the area with the help of the Indians who became their friends to acquire goods. You see Nathan, the British supply the Indians with guns and liquor in exchange for American scalps. Colonel Hamilton is known as the "Hair Buyer" since he exchanges goods for American scalps."
Nathan: "That sounds awfully cruel."
Abigail: "War is cruel Nathan."
Nathan: "So what did Mr. Clark do next?"
Abigail: "Clark outwitted Hamilton by tricking him. He made his men march back and forth outside the fort over and over again causing the British to think he had almost 1,000 men rather than under 100."
Nathan: "Was there any fighting?"
Abigail: "There was an exchange of gunfire, but fortunately no one was killed."
Nathan: "Well how was the fort finally captured?"
Abigail: "During the night Clark fortified
the fort and in the morning he asked
Hamilton to surrender, but he refused. So
the young Virginian captured five Indians
and in front of the fort killed them one by one with a
tomahawk. Hamilton was so frightened he would end up the same way since he believed
1,000
men were waiting outside the fort, he surrendered."
Nathan: "Is that how the British lost their power?"
Abigail: "Yes. With the defeat of Hamilton the British finally lost their hold on the Midwest and on us."
Nathan: "Do you think there will be more battles in the south mother?"
Abigail: "Yes, son I’m afraid there will be if we are to win this war."
Nathan: "Are you aware of anyone else who is doing for the cause as much as George Rogers Clark in the south?"
Abigail: "Yes. Mr. Jacobson down the road heard there's a man named Frances Marion who organized a group of men in South Carolina. It appears he and his men are living off the land."
Nathan: "Is he raising havoc to mother?"
Abigail: "I suppose he is Nathan. Mr. Jacobson heard he captures small groups of British in surprise attacks and destroys their communications. He and his men then retreats to the swamps because he was so sly. He has a nickname, the "Swamp Fox."
Nathan: "He sounds like a pretty smart man. Do you think he'll ever come to Kentucky?"
Abigail: "I'm not sure son. I'm not sure about anything any more. I would just like to see your father come home and have this war be all over with."
Nathan: "So do I mother. So do I."